Monday, September 29, 2008

This is what my RSS of Google News looked like this afternoon. Eight out of nine headlines refer to cyclists being killed, beaten, robbed, or assaulted in some fashion, sometimes more than once in the same day. Thank you Sam Whittingham for not only breaking the cycling land speed record (82.3mph) but for saving us from a perfect storm of cycling related tragedies.

The following went out yesterday on the Town of Chevy Chase's Towncrier listserv:Sat September 27, 2008 4:28 pm (PDT)

Sgt. John D'Albora of the Montgomery County Police Second District informed the Town that two assaults occurred on the Hiker-Biker Trail. The first assault occurred around 2:00 pm on Thursday 9/25 on the Trail near the entrance to Elm Street Park.

At about 2:00 pm, a man was walking alone from under the tunnel (under the Air Rights Building) westbound in the direction of East/West Hwy bridge. When he got to the section where Elm Street Park opens, two suspects (described as African-American, juvenile males from 15-17 years old) ordered him to turn over his wallet. They forcibly took his cell phone and some cash then ran toward Woodmont Avenue through the tunnel. The suspects were not caught. The Second District Station (Bethesda) is handling the investigation.

Today a second assault occurred on the Trail. The incident occurred closer to the dead end of Pearl Street on the Georgetown Hiker-Biker Trail at about 1:30 pm. Everything seems to be the same as the first case, except there was one more suspect today. A single male walker was assaulted. The police will step up patrols and foot patrols in this section of the Trail for the next few weeks.

So on the way home yesterday I was cut off by someone, let's call them "Wanker", making a left turn onto the road I was traveling on. It wasn't terrible but I did have to apply the brakes as the car was very close when Wanker pulled out. We were close enough that I could see Wanker looking at me in the rear view mirror. I motioned to my eyes and pointed at Wanker to suggest that Wanker wasn't watching for traffic that had the right of way. I didn't yell or give the bird or throw feces . Then Wanker pointed at the path near the road... sigh.

I am so tired of this argument. It's the same damn thing over and over and over from those who harbor aggression towards cyclists. I am a guy who owns a bike. I have a right to ride that bike on roads where it is legal to do so. I also own a car and buy gas and pay taxes. I do not belong on the sidewalk or a path. I am not foot traffic and travel at speeds unsafe for the sidewalk. I also think about the routes I take and don't use high traffic roads that would be dangerous for everyone if I tried to ride a bike on, even though it would be leagal to do so.

Wanker, it's not my fault you cut me off. You own a car, not the road.

Friday, September 12, 2008

This is a PSA from our friends over at the Corn Refiners Association. It turns our that HFCS is "fine in moderation". Outstanding! I think tomorrow morning I'll pour some over a heaping bowl of diabetes. I'll even have a large glass of that non descript red flavored "drink" on the side.

This video has all the elements of a political campaign ad; generalizations, misinformation, shit eating insincerity and bad acting. All that is missing is the message approval of an over photoshoped skeez bag in a suit.